Pot-filling apparatus.



.l. .CRUIKSHANK.

POT FILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. I914.

, Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

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I. W. CRUIKSHANK.

POT FILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1914.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

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J. W. CRUIKSHANK.

POT FILLiNG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. 1914 Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

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Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

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POT-FILLING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

Application filed May 25, 1914. Serial No. 840,671.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES W. CRUIK- SHANK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pot-Filling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improvement in charging apparatus for filling the pots of glass melting furnaces.

It has for its objects to provide a'portable machine of this character adapted for location with relation to the furnace door, provided with a superimposed hopper, a ladle adapted to receive a charge of glass from the hopper, means for manipulating the ladle to produce the several desired movements thereof in locating it for filling and discharging into the particular pot within the furnace mechanism for actuating and guiding the ladle, means for effecting travel of the carriage, a relatively movable charging barrel or buggy for the hopper, and various other features of construction and advantage as shall be hereinafter more fully de scribed.

The apparatus is intended for economical delivery and rapid handling of the raw material, cuttet, etc, from which the glass is made, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a view of the apparatus in end elevation, showing it in operative position with relation to the furnace, in section, and a pot therein. Fig. 2 is a similar view, partly broken away, showing the ladle advanced to delivering position, indicated by the section line II. II. of Fig. 8. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, indicated by the line III. III. of Fig. 1, the ladle and its shaft having been partly removed, and being indicated at different positions in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a view of the machine in front elevation, in charging position with relation to the furnace. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the ladle carrier, indicated by the line V. V. of Fig. 6. Fig.- 6 is a sectional end elevation of said carrier. Fig. 7 is a general plan view of a portion of the plant, illustrating the position of the furnace therein, diagrammatically. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation, indicated by the line VIII. VIII. of Fig. 7

Referring to the drawings, the furnaces )1 for the melting pots are usually rectangular, and arranged in alining series within a suitable building B, each furnace being provided with one or a series of closing doors and having a charging aperture a, the glass melting pots a being usually arranged in pairs within the furnace, one at each side of the said opening a.

The charging apparatus is mounted upon a traveling carriage 2 of any suitable construction supported upon Wheels 3 and adapted to be moved along the floor in front of the several ovens, and to be located in operative position in front of the particular chamber and opening a, through which the raw material is to be charged to one or both of the pots a Extending upwardly from carriage 2 is a suitable supporting frame work i of channel or other convenient structural material, carrying at its upper portion a bin 5. Said bin is of any desired capacity, tapering downwardly toward the bottom, and is provided with opening and closing doors 6, 6, geared together by intermeshing toothed wheels 7, and operated by a handle 8, secured to one of said doors.

A charging or batch wagon 9, of any suitable form to be lowered into the upper open end of bin 5, is provided with supporting wheels 10, 10, by which it may be moved over the floor, several of such buggies being indicated in the plan view, Fig. 7. These buggies are provided with middle upwardly extending plate portions 11 having internal sockets 11 into which are removably inserted the ends of a cross bar 12 of supporting chain or chains .13 of trolley 14 of an overhead or gauntree crane 15 traveling longitudinally of the building, whereby the buggies may be raised from any suitable point, shifted along, and lowered into the top of bin 5 as needed. By this construction the cross bar 12 is inserted in the sockets and the buggy is transported and placed in position, the bar being then removed for another operation.

The batch wagon 9 is provided with doors 1G, 16, pivoted at 17 to the central bottom portion, each door having a projecting terminal 18 adapted to be engaged by the latch 19 of a lever 20 pivoted at 21, to each end portion of the buggy 9. The doors being closed and the buggy full of material, upon lowering it into position, as in Fig. 1, the levers 20 come into contact with the upper cross bars of framing ii at each end, thereby and provided releasing the doors,'which drop to pendant position, as shown, delivering the contents of the wagon into the bin 5. The wagon may then be removed by the crane or left in position, as desired, the material being drawn as needed from the lower end of the bin by the operation of doors 6, 6. The raw material is received from the bin in suitable quantities in a ladle 22 carried on the end of shaft or spindle 23 mounted in a supporting bearing 24, through which it passes, and in which the spindle is longitudinally or rotatably movable.

The outer end of spindle 23 is provided with a handle extension 25 swivelly or pivotally connected with the spindle at 26. This handle is for the purpose of actuating the spindle and ladle, and may be connected longitudinally of the spindle in alinement with its center by connecting the rear end of the spindle and the shank of the handle by a suitable pin passing through holes 27.

The pin may be temporarily inserted in a receiving socket 28, when withdrawn, permitting the handle to be thrown around to one'side or the other, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. By this means the spindle, its bearing, and the bearing carriage may be thrust longitudinally of the machine, the workman operating at either side of the carriage track.

Bearing 24 is generally cylindrical in form, preferably provided with inner rolling bearings 29 and bushing 30, rotatable with the spindle 23, collars 31, 31 being socured to the spindle at each end of the boaring to prevent longitudinal movement there in, and insure transmission of longitudinal movement of the spindle, to the carriage. The collars are also useful in positioning the ladle with reference to the bin outlet and pots. Bearing 24 is provided with a pivotally supporting spindle or stem 32 mounted in a trunnion bearing 33 of a carriage structure 34. Said carriage is mounted by its wheels 35 on tracks 36 laid along the upper face of a Z-bar 37 at each side.

Wheels 38, at the trailing end of the carriage, engage underneath the upper flange of the Z-bar, and are carried at the ends of axle 39 which is engaged by a temper screw 40 mounted in bearing 41 of the carriage with an operating handle 42. By this means the rear end of the carriage may be tilted up or down, whereby to vertically locate the spindle 23 and ladle 22 at the desired elevation, with relation to opening a and pot (4 The track 36 is slightly inclined upwardly at its inner portion, as indicated at 36, whereby to effect corresponding inclined travel of the spindle 23 at the inner portion of its movement, to slightly elevate the ladle 22, as indicated in Fig.2.

For the purpose of automatically deflecting the bearing 24 and spindle 23, to the right or left, at a predetermined point in itsctravel, and after. the ladle has passed through the door opening a, I provide a straight section of guiding track 43, which may conveniently be made of two equally spaced'angles, beyond which is an adjustable or switching track section 44, of channel form. Such switching section is pivoted at 45, adjacent to one end of straight track 43, and is provided with a handle 46, whereby it may be thrown to one side or the other, as indicated in Fig. 3. Secured to the lower end of stem is a trailing arm 47 having at its rear end a downwardly projecting stud 48 adapted to fit between the angles and within the channel of track 43, as in Fig. 6. Upon movement of the carriage inwardly, as long as stud 48 is in engagement with the straight track section, it will maintain the spindle 23 in longitudinal alinement therewith. When switch 44 is deflected to one side or the other, stud 48 will follow the deflection, rotating stem 32 correspondingly, and thrusting the forward end of spindle 23 and ladle 22 in the opposite direction, as the ladle is thrust inwardly of the furnace. for the purpose of efiecting the location of the ladle centrally over either of the pots of, as indicated in Fig. 3.

For the purpose of arresting inward travel of the bearing carriage at its desired limit of. movement, stops 38, preferably adjustable, may be located in the path of wheels 38, so as to suit any variation of the pots with reference to the face of the furnace. Similar removable stops 38 are located at the outer portion of track bar 37 in the path of wheels 38, to normally limit their outward travel. Then it is desired to swing the ladle 22 around to one side, beyond its usual range, as indicated 22 Fig. 3, for receiving a charge rial not contained in the bin, are removed and the handle 25 is rigidly connected in alinement with-spindle 23, so' that it may be swung thereby. The carriage is then withdrawn backwardly until stud 48 is clear of the rear end of track 43, thereby leaving stem 32 free to turn, so that the movement above described may be made.

For the purpose of effecting travel of the supporting truck by its wheels 3 over the floor along the front of the furnace, or of the several furnaces, one of the wheel axles 49 is geared by a sprocket wheel 50, chain 51, and driving sprocket 52 with actuating shaft 53 provided with an operating of cullet, or other mate-' the stops 38 I This movement is handle 54. Shaft 53 is mounted in suitable bearings 55 on the main frame, and is in convenient position for handling by the operator. A guiding rail 56 extends along the upper front portion of the furnace structure, upon the buck staves, against which rail bear the rollers 57, 57 mounted at each inner corner of the frame 4, whereby the relative distance of the center of the hopper 5 is maintained with relation to the front of the furnace and the pots therein, and the machine itself is maintained uniformly against undesirable variations. The truck 2 is provided at its other end with supporting wheels 33' mounted on the outer ends of a carrying axle structure 58 having a fifth wheel mounting 59 for swivel action,'and a forwardly projecting pulling or pushing handle 60, to assist in manipulating the truck over the floor.

The operation of the apparatus will be readily understood from the foregoing description. The bin 5 having been filled with raw material, the ladle 22 is located beneath it, as indicated in Fig. 1, and filled with a charge. The operator, by handle 25, then pushes inwardly. the ladle and its spindle being supported in bearing 24 and riding upon the carriage 34. The switch 44 having been set to the proper location by lever 46, ladle 42 will be deflected over the particular pot which is to receive its contents, and the spindle 28 is then rotated in bearing 24, emptying its contents into the pot. The ladle may then be withdrawn backwardly for a new charge, and the operation repeated until the pot is filled, whereupon switch 44 may be re-set at the other side for filling of the other pot. The ladle being withdrawn, truck 22 may then be shifted along to the next position and the operation repeated, it being understood that bin 5 may be supplied from time to time by the portable batch wagons 9.

The apparatus is comparatively simple in construction, eflicient in operation, and easily manipulable by a single operator. The ladle is maintained in position by its mounting upon the carriage 34, eliminating labor by the operator, so that the work of charging, under the high temperature conditions of the furnace is rendered comparatively easy and rapid. A further important advantage is that the ladle is always located and discharges at a predetermined point, avoiding any danger of spilling the contents outside of the pot.

It will be understood that the invention may be changed or modified in various features of construction, detail arrangement, or in other respects by the skilled mechanic, but that all such changes are to be considered as within the scope of the follow ing claims.

What I claim is:

1. Pot filling mechanism consisting of a movable truck adapted to be moved along in front of a furnace and provided with a transverse trackwayhaving a level and an inclined portion, a carriage mounted on said trackway provided with a vertically ar- &

ranged swivel bearing, a horizontal bearing having a vertical stud swiveled in said bearing and adapted to be deflected therein, and a rotatably and longitudinally movable spindle mounted in said horizontal bearing provided with a charging ladle.

2. Pot filling mechanism consisting of a movable truck adapted to be moved along in front of a furnace and provided with a transverse trackway having its inner portion inclined upwardly toward the furnace, a carriage mounted on said trackway provided with a swivelly mounted bearing, and a spindle rotatably and longitudinally mounted in said bearing provided with a charging ladle at one end and a laterally swinging pivoted handle at its other end.

3. Pot filling mechanism consisting of a movable truck adapted to be moved along in front of furnace and provided with a transverse trackway, a carriage mounted on said trackway provided with a swivelly mounted bearing, a rotatably and longitudinally movable spindle mounted in said bearing provided at its inner end with a charging ladle, and means for automatically deflecting the swivelly mounted bearing during travel of said carriage consisting of an arm secured to the spindle having a projecting stud and a controlling trackway for said stud.

4. In combination, a traveling truck having a. transverse trackway, a supporting carriage thereon having a swivelly mounted bearing, means for automatically deflecting said bearing laterally on its swivel, and a spindle rotatably mounted in said bearing provided at one end with a ladle and at the other end with a handle.

5. In combination, a traveling truck having a transverse trackway, a. supporting carriage thereon having a. swivelly mounted bearing, means for deflecting said bearing laterally on its swivel, and a spindle rotatably mounted in said bearing provided at one end with a ladle and at the other end with a laterally adjustable pivoted handle.

6. In combination, a traveling truck having a transverse trackway, a sup-porting carriage thereon having a rotatable vertical bearing stem, an upper bearing thereon, a ladle spindle supported on said bearing and longitudinally and rotatably movable therein, a. guiding device on the lower end of said stem, and a guiding track therefor.

7. In combination, a traveling truck having a transverse trackway, a supporting carriage thereon having a vertical bearing stem, an upper bearing thereon, a ladle spindle supported on said bearing and longitudinally and rotatably movable therein, a guiding device on the lower end of said stem, and a guiding track therefor having a laterally adjustable deflecting extension adapted to engage said guiding device.

8. In combination, a traveling truck having a transverse flanged trackway, a supporting carriage thereon having main supporting wheels carrying a ladle spindle provided at its forward end with a ladle and at its rear end with a handle, a vertically adjustable axle frame having wheels adapted to engage said flanged trackway, and an adjusting screw operable to vary the position of the carriage with relation to said wheels. w

9. In combination, a traveling truck having a transverse flanged trackway, a. supporting carriage thereon having main supporting wheels carrying a ladle spindle provided at its forward end with a ladle and at its rear end with a handle, a vertically adjustable axle frame having wheels adapted to engage said flanged trackway, an adjusting screw operable to vary the position of the carriage with relation to said wheels,

and limiting stops adapted to engage said wheels.

10. In pot filling mechanism, the combination of a movable truck adapted to be moved along in front of a furnace and pro' vided'with a transversetrackway having at its inner portion an inclined section, a carriage mounted by wheels on said trackway, a universally movable ladle spindle mounted on said carriage, means for automatically deflecting the ladle spindle laterally at a predetermined point during the travel of the carriage, and means for adjustably tilting the carriage with relation to the trackway.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses. JAMES W. CRUIKSHANK. WVitnesses:

C. M. CLARKE, FREDK. STAUB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

